The Power Of Sobriety Thread (POST!) (was F.I.S.T#3)
p***enger
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 19,039
I'm with you Stargazer. I can't even think about my highs. They were low, if you know what I mean. They make me shudder worse than the other.
On that cheery note, I have a joke:
An Irishman comes to London looking for work. He goes to a building site and asks the (English) foreman for a job. The foreman looks the scrawny fellow over, and says, "You don't look like you know a girder from a joist." The Irishman replies, "Of course I do! One wrote Faust and the other wrote Ulysses!"
On that cheery note, I have a joke:
An Irishman comes to London looking for work. He goes to a building site and asks the (English) foreman for a job. The foreman looks the scrawny fellow over, and says, "You don't look like you know a girder from a joist." The Irishman replies, "Of course I do! One wrote Faust and the other wrote Ulysses!"
non-drinker
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 13,841
Welcome, Mark! I hope you'll stick around. Lots of wisdom on this thread.
Went for my Sunday morning nature walk. I try to walk at least 2-3 miles every day, but the Sunday morning one is a bit longer and goes thru a nice wooded area, past the local river and falls. Lots of birds, squirrels and rabbits, along with the occasional fox, raccoon, possum or turtle (depending on how early I get going). This morning I saw lots of baby ducks and geese.
When I quit drinking, I was in pretty rough shape. My doctor said that if I kept it up, I'd probably dead within 5 years. That was now nearly 8 years ago! So glad I chose to live instead.
Went for my Sunday morning nature walk. I try to walk at least 2-3 miles every day, but the Sunday morning one is a bit longer and goes thru a nice wooded area, past the local river and falls. Lots of birds, squirrels and rabbits, along with the occasional fox, raccoon, possum or turtle (depending on how early I get going). This morning I saw lots of baby ducks and geese.
When I quit drinking, I was in pretty rough shape. My doctor said that if I kept it up, I'd probably dead within 5 years. That was now nearly 8 years ago! So glad I chose to live instead.
Guest
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Ashburn, VA
Posts: 30,196
It's important to stay grounded: sometimes I need a gentle reminder that nobody died and made me empress!
While not discounting the real good that I contribute, I need to remember that if I stepped back a bit in some areas, the world would not stop turning.
While not discounting the real good that I contribute, I need to remember that if I stepped back a bit in some areas, the world would not stop turning.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 3,958
Hi everyone!
Great posts at the end of the last thread and for the start of this one.
Del - You know all those cliches about how life isn't about avoiding the storm, it's about dancing in the rain? That's what you are doing every time you allow yourself to experience the struggle, sober. I find that with time, the storms don't feel any less intense, but when I put my sober tools to work, like you did, the call to drink diminishes.
Interesting insight by others about allowing ourselves some down time. I struggle with the same go-go-go mentality. There's always something that needs to be done, or would be helpful or beneficial to do. When I take my foot off the gas, I feel like I am shirking my responsibilities. Failing myself. Failing others. I think that mindset can sabotage my recovery.
Have a great rest of your weekend, everyone.
Great posts at the end of the last thread and for the start of this one.
Del - You know all those cliches about how life isn't about avoiding the storm, it's about dancing in the rain? That's what you are doing every time you allow yourself to experience the struggle, sober. I find that with time, the storms don't feel any less intense, but when I put my sober tools to work, like you did, the call to drink diminishes.
Interesting insight by others about allowing ourselves some down time. I struggle with the same go-go-go mentality. There's always something that needs to be done, or would be helpful or beneficial to do. When I take my foot off the gas, I feel like I am shirking my responsibilities. Failing myself. Failing others. I think that mindset can sabotage my recovery.
Have a great rest of your weekend, everyone.
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 3,958
SG - I don't think it's inevitable that addicts and alcoholics will relapse, but it will happen. When faced with that situation, my sponsor suggests a great activity to take my focus off of other people: She will point out that I don't know what type of activities the other person does, and what I can control is that I am grateful for my recovery today, and engage in the things I need to do to be recovered.
Guest
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Ashburn, VA
Posts: 30,196
I'm in a situation where I've somehow begun dominating things by default.
I feel that somebody has to say something; so I've taken it upon myself to step up and fill all awkward pauses. I'm getting more and more uneasy, because I know deep down it's not my place.
Even if some people are really and truly mistaken about things, my stepping in and lecturing them like a know-it-all is not the answer.
Sharing a bit of information is fine--but everybody hates a perennial schoolmarm who is constantly wagging her finger and airing her own opinions. I fear that I'm alienating people rather than benefiting them.
I need to back the heck off!
Not the empress! Don't want to be the empress!
I feel that somebody has to say something; so I've taken it upon myself to step up and fill all awkward pauses. I'm getting more and more uneasy, because I know deep down it's not my place.
Even if some people are really and truly mistaken about things, my stepping in and lecturing them like a know-it-all is not the answer.
Sharing a bit of information is fine--but everybody hates a perennial schoolmarm who is constantly wagging her finger and airing her own opinions. I fear that I'm alienating people rather than benefiting them.
I need to back the heck off!
Not the empress! Don't want to be the empress!
p***enger
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Posts: 19,039
Gilmer, if you really truly believe you're right, and it's something important, and no one else is stepping up, to say what you think isn't bad. But if people won't listen... you can't usually change that, and to keep speaking out will just make you feel louder and worse. I guess it comes down to, how important is this? Is someone's health or livelihood at risk? What are the consequences if you just bow out of the picture?
Administrator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,432
welcome Mark 
Gilmer I can see you trying to fix things in good faith, or trying to keep the peace, but I can never see you dominating things or acting like an Empress
I was the General Manager of the Universe tho - don't take that job - long hours, no thanks, no benefits - it's cruddy
D
Gilmer I can see you trying to fix things in good faith, or trying to keep the peace, but I can never see you dominating things or acting like an Empress
I was the General Manager of the Universe tho - don't take that job - long hours, no thanks, no benefits - it's cruddy
D
Quit 4/17/15
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Pa
Posts: 15,172
You bring up some great points Glee. I am sure hoping relapse doesn't happen either! I think a little self focus is not a bad thing to maintain recovery.
Courage, welcome to Pa! Where did your airplane take you?
Gilmer, you don't strike me as the Empress type. My family would cut me to pieces if I took that role.
Up early to get to work by 3:00 so that I can defrost a freezer case before our morning deliveries arise. Ah, the magic that has to happen in a grocery store before the doors open.
Just remembered Carlos should be in Pittsburgh about now too. Pa can't handle so many Poster's at one time, can it?
Have a good day all!
Courage, welcome to Pa! Where did your airplane take you?
Gilmer, you don't strike me as the Empress type. My family would cut me to pieces if I took that role.
Up early to get to work by 3:00 so that I can defrost a freezer case before our morning deliveries arise. Ah, the magic that has to happen in a grocery store before the doors open.
Just remembered Carlos should be in Pittsburgh about now too. Pa can't handle so many Poster's at one time, can it?
Have a good day all!
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PA and Florida
Posts: 4,179
Hey, gang. Love the new thread name.
Bust times - Saturday was bodypump with my old gang up north, then golfing with some peeps that I've known since hs/college - GREAT DAY.
Yesterday was 9 hours at one of my two storage units. This is a big task. Back at it as soon as I finish this email.
Staying with a friend and switching off on Wednesday - you know, that smell like fish thing.
Yes, the game was super fantastic and the Pittsburgh Penguins are 5 time Stanley Cup Champions. On for the THUMB, baby!!!
I'm friends with FBL and Glee on FB...so they are up to date on my THRILL!!!
tty'all-later
No, not me - not today.
Carlos
Bust times - Saturday was bodypump with my old gang up north, then golfing with some peeps that I've known since hs/college - GREAT DAY.
Yesterday was 9 hours at one of my two storage units. This is a big task. Back at it as soon as I finish this email.
Staying with a friend and switching off on Wednesday - you know, that smell like fish thing.
Yes, the game was super fantastic and the Pittsburgh Penguins are 5 time Stanley Cup Champions. On for the THUMB, baby!!!
I'm friends with FBL and Glee on FB...so they are up to date on my THRILL!!!
tty'all-later
No, not me - not today.
Carlos
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
